George c



(No Model.)

G.G.FBRGUS0N. BooTJAGK.

Patented Feb) m mm UNITED STATES'y PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. FERGUSON, OF ODELL, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MATHIAS OSWALD, OF SAME PLACE.

BOOT-JAC K.

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 534,035, dated February 12, 1895. Application filed September 8, 1894. `Serial No. 522,481- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. FERGUSON,

Y a` citizen of the United States, residing at Odell, in the county of Gage and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and usefulV Boot- J ack,'of. which the following is a specification. This invention relates to an improvement 1n that class of boot-jacks which are hinged to the mold 01 base board of the room in which they are arranged, and are adapted to fold against the wall when not being used; and it conslsts in certain peculiar features of construction, and combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described hereinafter and finally embodied in the claims.

The principal object of the invention is to provide the boot-jack with a receptacle for dirt and dust, which may be gathered from the boots of the user, and to provide means whereby this receptacle may be emptied with ease.

A further object is to so construct the app liance. that it will operate with more efticlency 1n other respects, so that it will fold agalnst the wall of a room without undue noise or injury to either the boot-jack or the wall, and so that it may be rested upon the fioor in the operation of withdrawing the boot without any difficulty.

In theacconipanying drawings: Figurel represents a perspective view of a boot-jack constructed after theV manner of my invention, and showing it in operative adjustment, though swung into engagement with the wall; Fig. 2, a similar View, showing the boot-jack 1n a position which Will permit its use in withdrawing the boot; Fig. 3, a section taken through the appliance when in the position of Fig. l and on a vertical line; Fig-4:, a detall perspective of the removable dirt-collecting or receiving cup; Fig. 5, a cross-section taken on the line of Fig. 3, and illustratlng the preferred mode of constructing the boot-jack; Fig. 6, a View illustrating a modified arrangement by which the boot-jack may be secured to the wash or base board of a room.

The reference numeral l indicates the wall of the room within which my boot-jack is shown as being arranged, and 2 the Wash or base board thereof. The /baseboard 2 is of that class which projects out from the wall, all of which will be understood.

3 indicates the body of the boot-jack, which consists, preferably, of two or more wooden sections joined to each other by bolts 4i passing transversely through them, as may be seen byreference to Fig. 5. The body portion 3 is of a thickness equal to that of the base-board 2, and is hinged to the upper edge thereof, by means of the hinge 5, which permits the body to rest snugly against the upper edge ofthe base-board when in the position of Figs. 1 and 3.

The hinge 5 is provided with the coiled springs .6, which are so arranged that they will give the body a normal ltendency to a vertical position, or to that whichl is shown the first and third figures.

The construction and arrangement of the hinge 5 and springs 6 'may be of any suitable kind, since this is not essential to my invention. Y l

Formed in the body portion 3, and extending and occupying the majorportion thereof, is the opening 7, which is substantially kiteshaped in form, and which has its point 8 located directly adjacent to the free end of the body portion, or to the small end thereof, while the sides of the body portion are made to extend substantially parallel with the sides of the opening 7, thus giving the body portion a similar shape.

9 indicatesthe dirt-collecting and receiving pan, which is formed of sheet metal, preferably tin, and which is permanently secured to the outer side of the body portion and around the edges of the opening 7. This pan conforms in shape to that of the opening 7, and has its outer end formed with a beveled portion 10, which has for its purpose to permit the body portion to squarely engage the oor of the room, as shown in Fig. 2. The purpose of this pan is to collect all ldirt and dust which may beknocked off of the boot of the user.

The lower or inner end of the pan 9 is left open, so that the dirt and dust which it contains may pass therethrough and into the cup 11. The cup ll is also formed of sheet metal, and is of a rectangular shape and adapted to receive the open lower end of the pan 9, so as to form a close connection therewith. The open end or mouth of the cup 11 is formed at one side with a shortened portion 12, which is provided to lie adjacent to the outer side of the body portion, since it would be impossible for this particular edge of the cup to pass beyond the lower edge of the pan 9. Rigidly secured to each side of the cup 11 are the inwardly-extending and downwardly-open. ing hooks 13, which are adapted to co-operate with eyes 14, fixed to the body portion 3, directly adjacent to the cup 11. By these means the cup may be secured in place at the open lower end of the pan 9 and yet removed when it is desired to empty its contents. Fixed to the free end of the body portion 1, and on the outer side thereof, is the button 15, which is provided to facilitate grasping the body portion and to help in drawing it down to the position of Fig. 2.

To prevent the body portion from forcibly engaging the wall 1, from injuring the same, and from making a disagreeable noise, the pad 16 is provided, which is rigidly secured to the inner and free end of the body portion so that it will be made to engage the wall when the body portion swings up, and to pre vent the latter from touching the wall.

In the use of my invention, supposing that it is desirous to withdraw a boot, and that the appliance is in the position shown in Fig. 1, all that will be necessary for the user to do is to draw the body portion down to the position of Fig. 2, in which position it may be held by placing the toe of one foot thereon. The remaining foot of the user may now be inserted into the opening 7and the heel moved down toward the point 8 thereof, which will bind with the boot and make it possible to withdraw the foot therefrom, as will be understood. The position of the users feet may now be reversed and the remaining boot be withdrawn; lVhen the use of the boot-jack has been finished, the body portion may be released and it will return to its normal position, that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 illustrates a method of attaching the body portion to the baseboard when said board lies flush with the surface of the wall, and this consists in providing a supplemental plate 17, to which the hinge 5 is attached. The plate 17 is, in turn, rigidly secured to the base-board, thereby mounting the body portionor the boot-jack in substantially the same way as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

It will be observed that the capability of collecting and retaining all dirt which may be knocked from the boots is a valuable one, and that the cup 11 provides a most convenient and effective means for removing said dirt and dust. It will also be observed that the boot -jack is simple in construction and capable of inexpensive manufacture.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and arrangement of the parts of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the y substance thereof. Therefore I desire it understood that I am not restricted to the precise construction herein shown, but am entitled to allsuch variations as come within the above definition.

Having described the invention, I claiml. A boot-jack comprising the combination of a body portion adapted to be hinged tothe base-board of a room, and formed with a tapering opening therein, a dirt-receptacle secured to the body at one side thereof and extending around the opening therein, the lower end of said dirt-receptacle being open, and a removable cup secured over said open end, substantially as described.

2. A boot-j ack comprising the combination of a body portion adapted to be hinged to the base-board of a room and having a tapering opening therein, a dirt'receptacle secured to the body and on one side thereof and surrounding the opening, the dirt receptacle having an open lower end, and a cup removably secured at said open lower end ol' the dirtreceptacle and provided on each side with a hook adapted to operate, respectively, with eyes or staples secured to the body portion, substantially as described.

3. A boot jack consisting of a board having therein a tapering opening, capable of receiving the boot, a dirt receptacle secured to the under side of the board and embracing the opening, one end of the dirt receptacle being open, and a cup fitting removably over and closing the said open end of the dirt receptacle, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE C. FERGUSON.

Vitnesses:

GEORGE BASINI, FLETCHER MILLER.

IOC 

